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Amazon’s $99 Fire TV streaming box and game console won’t be available in Canada at launch

There's no word yet on when or if the Fire TV will be released in Canada

The Amazon Fire TV - a new device that allows users to stream video, music, photos, games and more through a television - along with its remote control and gaming controller, is displayed at a media event on April 2, 2014 in New York City.Photo: .Andrew Burton/Getty Images

Unlike competing devices like Google’s Chromecast or Roku’s Streaming stick, Amazon’s Fire TV is an Android-based device with close ties to Amazon’s Instant Video streaming ecosystem. Unfortunately the Fire TV will not be available in Canada at launch, according to an Amazon Canada.

“The Amazon Fire TV is not available outside the U.S. at this time,” said Katie McFadzean, an Amazon Canada PR representative.

It’s likely the Fire TV will make its way to Canada at some point, just like Amazon’s Kindle eReader products eventually do, but for now, just like we often do, Canadians will have to wait to get their hands on the device.

Amazon Kindle vice president Peter Larsen introduces the Amazon Fire at a news conference on April 2, 2014 in New York.

Inside the Fire TV is a quad-core CPU and 2 GB of RAM, making the device more like a high-end smartphone than most other streaming devices on the market. From images, it looks very thin and has sleek black form factor. It also includes a standard HDMI plug as well as an optical audio out and Ethernet port.

The Fire TV is set to launch with access to Hulu and the company has plans to add Netflix, Plex and specific sports apps like NBA Gametime. If the Fire TV does comes to Canada, since Hulu is only available in the U.S., we won’t have access to that particular streaming service (unless you follow this guide). Its interface is reportedly very image focused and browsing Amazon’s video store involves scrolling though an endless cycle of movie posters. Clicking and navigating the UI is fast and responsive and pressing play on a video launches a movie almost instantly with very little lag, according to engadget.

Unlike the Apple TV, Amazon’s Kindle Fire operates with an open, android-powered ecosystem, allowing developers to port over apps easily. The Fire TV also supports Kinect-like voice commands, accomplished via a tiny microphone in the device’s controller. How extensive the voice navigation will actually be is still unknown.

The Amazon Fire TV’s controller looks very similar to the Xbox 360’s gamepad (not that this is a bad thing).

Amazon’s Fire TV isn’t just about streaming, the company also seems to be trying to create the first successful Android-powered game console. Developers and publishers like 2K, Double Fine and Ubisoft are all on board and bringing their titles to the platform. Mojang’s Minecraft is probably the biggest title coming to the console.

Interestingly, Amazon also seems committed to gaming and is creating exclusive Fire TV games like Sev Zero, developed by Amazon’s new Amazon Game Studios. Amazon also recently purchased the developer of the Xbox One’s Killer Instinct reboot, Double Helix and also hired Portal’s creator, Jim Swift and member of Far Cry 2’s development team, Clint Hocking, according to Kotaku.

According to Amazon, many of the Fire TV’s games will be free and “the average price of paid games is just $1.85.” The console’s Xbox 360-like controller will be sold separately for $39.99.

Kickstarter sort-of-success-story, the Ouya, tried to become the first Android game console, but beyond using the device as an old school emulation device, it’s been a failure. Games can be played with the Fire TV’s Xbox-like controller or by using Amazon’s app via your smartphone or tablet .

With its impressive specs and Amazon’s apparent commitment to gaming, the Fire TV could be the first Android-powered game console worth purchasing.